Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA)

ESSA Update

March 20, 2019

Dear Partners in Education,

Previously, under No Child Left Behind, states were required to provide a definition of “highly qualified teacher.” Under ESSA, states are required to submit a definition of “ineffective teacher” to the U.S. Department of Education (DOE).

Timeline:

2015- Montana Plan to Ensure Equitable Access to Excellent Educators

January 2017-February 2019- Previous discussions with advocates and research on definitions across the nation

November 2018- the DOE published the process for writing amendments

March 19, 2019- ESSA Update and posting of amendment for public comment

Inexperienced: Montana teachers with less than one year of teaching experience.

​Reporting:

State and LEA report cards are required to document the percentages of Inexperienced teachers, teachers teaching with emergency and provisional credentials, and out-of-field teachers. Ineffective teacher data is not included on the report card.

The analysis to ensure minority and economically disadvantaged students are not served at a disproportionate rate by ineffective, out-of-field, or inexperienced teachers will be done and a description of the results will be posted on the OPI website to meet the public reporting requirements of the DOE.

Data collected in TEAMS and MSEIS is used to determine the number of teachers meeting the definitions of ineffective, out-of-field, or inexperienced teachers. TEAMS users indicate whether or not the “Board of Trustees has written policies and procedures for regular and periodic evaluation of all regularly employed personnel in accordance with requirements listed in ARM 10.55.701(4).”